Nuclear Power by Country 2022

The center of an atom contains nuclear energy. Nuclear processes, most often nuclear fission, are used to generate energy in nuclear power plants.

When a neutron collides with a uranium atom during nuclear fission, it divides the atom, producing energy and heat. Steam turbines generate power by using the heat from these boilers.

Nuclear fission is used in all nuclear power reactors, and uranium atoms are used in most of them. Nuclear fusion and nuclear decay are both sources of nuclear power.

Moreover, ten percent of the world’s energy supply came from nuclear reactors in 2018, producing 2,563 terawatt-hours. Hydroelectricity is the world’s primary low-carbon energy source, followed by nuclear power.

Discourse about Nuclear Power

It’s not uncommon for people to dispute the safety of nuclear power. The World Nuclear Association, for example, is a proponent of nuclear power and believes that it is a reliable and sustainable energy source.

Greenpeace and others who oppose nuclear power claim that it harms the environment and human health. The number of people killed by nuclear power plants is among the lowest of any energy source.

There have been many more deaths per unit of energy caused by air pollution and accidents caused by hydroelectricity, coal, natural gas, and petroleum.

According to research, nuclear power has averted nearly 1.84 million air pollution-related fatalities and 64 billion tons of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions since its introduction in the 1970s.

A popular argument against nuclear power is the Soviet Union’s Chernobyl tragedy of 1986. It is the world’s worst nuclear accident.

It resulted in the deaths of two power plant employees and the discharge of large quantities of radiation into the surrounding region, prompting the evacuation of thousands and the suspicion of radiation-related health issues, such as cancer, among many more.

Using Nuclear Energy All Over the World

According to the Globe Nuclear Association, there are 439 operational nuclear reactors in the world, with a combined power of 389.5 gigawatts (GW), and 56 are currently under construction, which will add to 63.7 gigawatts to the total.

United States nuclear reactors now provide more than 800 terawatts of annual emissions-free energy, making it the global leader in nuclear power.

Since the mid-1990s, the reactors have provided nearly one-fifth of the United States’ energy by operating at full power 92% of the time.

Around 70.6% of France’s total energy is generated by nuclear power, the country’s greatest power source. 384.2 gigawatts of nuclear electricity are produced in France and Laos, the second-largest in the world.

Also See: LTE Bands by Country 2022

The following are the top 10 nuclear-producing nations in 2022 –

1. United States – 809.36 GW
2. France – 384.2 GW
3. China – 330.12 GW
4. Russia – 195.54 GW
5. South Korea – 138.81 GW
6. Canada – 94.85 GW
7. Ukraine – 78.14 GW
8. Japan – 65.68 GW
9. Sweden – 64.43 GW
10. Spain – 55.86 GW